The W.E.A. Defended

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 111, 27 May 1937, Page 7

The W.E.A. Defended

Sir, — Mr French has seen fit to bring before the notice of the public, in your issue of .the 25th inst,, matters affecting the activities of the Workers' Educational Association. Having been acquainted with W.E.A. work both in England and in New Zealand, it is ineumbent upon me to make one or two questions elear for the benefit of those who have not entored into the spirit of the movement. Men and women denied the benefits of eecondary as well as a portion of their primary education gladly retrieved their position by joining individual egort with the facilities oifered by the W.E.A. te stimulate eultural deveiopment. Though the movement gathered under its wings the intelligent section of the working elass, jts woxth soon became known to the intelligent gection of the upper class, and they too desired the mental uplift affiorded. In New Zealand the movement has brought within its ranks people of eulture and goodwill who are not easily misgnided. Haviing served on its national council I can testify that it is run on demccratic lines. The appointment of tutors and the arranging of matters involving aca'demie standards are in the care of the tfniversity College and representatives of • the atudents. Lecturers are chosen in a similar way tq that by which teachers are appointed to sekoals and colleges, but there is this differonce; the teacher is told what to teaeb, the pupil is told what to learn; whereas the fundamental principlo of. the W.E.A, is open discussion. Even though lecturers may spruetimeia be led to give bias to their subjects, they always know that the real W.E.A. student will not accept anything without examination. No matter what viewpoint is presenFed, a contrary view is forthcoming. It must be made clear that the W.E.A. is nonsectarian and non-poUtical. It is going to remain so. Just as Walter Duranty can write as he pleases, so can Tlie W.E.A. lecturers talk aa they please; but the W.E.A. student is always given the hcaven-eent prei'ogative to think as he pleases. We lxope the W.E.A. lecturer, like the preacher, is worthy of his hire. If some qf our preachers were paid on a c'ommission according to the number ot eouig won, many of them would not live above the coolie line, It ia -because they do not deal in material things that they are not paid by material results. The resulte of the W.E.A. cannot be measured like a yard of calicq; its achievements aTe hot measured according- to profit but according tQ the fiuer tastes not purchased by silver and cold.

The W.E.A. cannot provide a man with a living, but it has consistently plaeed before the people the means to a I'uller, freer, and better life, It is extremely difficult tq get most people interested in movements where independent thinking is required. Someone has said that "Men would rather die than think — and they do die." The W-E.A. will never let np in its efforts to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. It will ever have in view its task not only to make better men bnt better Liberals, better Tories, better Socialists. It is not what people think that matters, but what sart of a reason they can give for the faith that is in them that really counts. It would be a good thing if Mr French and many others would join the ranks of these " well-intentioned people" — Yonrs, etc., H. L3NYABDHastings, May 26, 1987.